William Morris Red Strawberry Thief

This licensed William Morris design was first produced in 1883. William Morris was inspired to produce this design whilst watching the birds steal his strawberries from under the fruit nets at Kelmscott Manor. This design can be still seen at Kelmscott where it is hanging where he originally placed it in the hall. - See more at: http://wwwWilliam Morris' Strawberry ThiefThis licensed William Morris design was first produced in 1883. The inspiration behind the design came about as Morris watched the birds steal the strawberries under the fruit nets from his garden in Kelmscott Manor. The design was a triumph for Morris as it marked the perfecting of the indigo-discharge technique of printing at Merton Abbey.

This licensed William Morris design was first produced in 1883. The inspiration behind the design came about as Morris watched the birds steal the strawberries under the fruit nets from his garden in Kelmscott Manor. The design was a triumph for Morris as it marked the perfecting of the indigo-discharge technique of printing at Merton Abbey.

The design was inspired by Morris’s observation of the thrushes under the strawberry nets at Kelmscott Manor. May Morris conjured up this scene when speaking of the design, “You can imagine my Father going out in the early morning and watching the rascally thrushes at work on the fruit beds and telling the fanned who growls ‘I’d like to wring their necks!’ that no bird in the garden must be touched. There were certainly more birds than strawberries in spite of attempts at protection. And the walls of the little dining-room are hung with this note of the June garden and the little lords of it.” What a beautiful insight into the Morris' family life!

Our products are both printed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, and are licensed designs by William Morris; printed both size and colour-wise to our own specifications to best suit our products.